Improvements in or relating to process for refining sour petroleum distillates

    公开(公告)号:GB756462A

    公开(公告)日:1956-09-05

    申请号:GB3224753

    申请日:1953-11-20

    Inventor: KRAUSE JACK H

    Abstract: Sour straight-run petroleum distillate boiling within the range between about 300 DEG and 650 DEG F. is refined by contact with sulphuric acid in two stages, the refined product being substantially neutral and substantially sweet and producing an amount of steel dish deposit, when employing a specified procedure, not greater than 10 milligrams. In the first stage, the distillate is contacted at a temperature beween about 145 DEG and 175 DEG F. with an amount of fresh sulphuric acid, having a concentration between about 90 and 100 weight per cent, sufficient to substantially sweeten the distillate. After separating the distillate from acid and acid sludge, the distillate is contacted in the second stage at a temperature between about 90 DEG and 130 DEG F. with an amount of fresh sulphuric acid, having a concentration between about 90 and 100 weight per cent, sufficient to remove oil-soluble products formed in the first stage. Finally, the distillate is freed of acid, acid sludge, pepper sludge and other occluded materials to obtain the refined product. The temperatures employed in the two stages are related to each other, so that the higher the temperature of operation in the first stage, the lower the temperature of operation must be in the second stage. The petroleum distillate may be an illuminating oil, burning oil, furnace oil, heater oil, diesel fuel or jet plane fuel. The fresh sulphuric acid may be commercial grade sulphuric acid or may be "black sulphuric acid" obtained by the regeneration or decomposition of acid sludge. The pepper sludge and other occluded materials may be removed by passing the distillate through a coalescer packed, for example, with steel wool, metal chain, carbon Raschig rings, or Berl saddles, or by washing the distillate with water. The refined product may be neutralized by washing with dilute aqueous caustic soda solution, by contact with fuller's earth, Attapulgus clay or acid-treated clay, or by passage through a bed of basic materials such as magnesium carbonate or hydroxide. The neutralized distillate, if desired after water washing, may then be dehydrated by passage through a vessel packed with coarse rock salt, or by passage through a coalescer packed with excelsior, fibre glass or steel wool. Apparatus for carrying out the process of the invention is described. The effect of treating a petroleum distillate boiling between 330 and 544 DEG F. with 98 per cent sulphuric acid at 90-150 DEG F. in the first stage and 90-140 DEG F. in the second stage is described, and also the effect of using acid sludge instead of fresh sulphuric acid in the first stage.

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